Text © World of Showjumping

Belgium’s Thibeau Spits and the 11-year-old stallion Impress-K van’T Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K van’T Kattenheye x Vagabond de La Pomme) won Sunday’s CSI5* 1.60m GL Events Grand Prix at the 2026-edition of Le Printemps des Sports Équestres in Fontainebleau, France.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Spits said in a press release from Le Printemps des Sports Équestres. “I was already happy to have qualified for the Grand Prix. Today, Impress jumped great, but I wasn’t sure if our jump-off round would be fast enough with the competitors coming after me – luckily, we were clear.”

In a jump-off of six horse-and-rider combinations, Spits and Impress-K van’T Kattenheye Z crossed the finish line in 41.27 seconds, and as the only double clear of the competition, took the win ahead of Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo), who had to settle for the second place with a fence down in 39.95.

The host nation’s Marie Demonte with Forban de Beliard (Upsilon x Diamant de Semilly) completed the podium in third, followed by Megane Moissonnier (FRA) on Crooner Tame (Conrad x Quaprice Boimargot Quincy) in fourth and Pieter Devos (BEL) aboard Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero) in fifth.